Laura Whitmore has shared the emotional final text messages exchanged with Caroline Flack, marking five years since the Love Island presenter's death.
The messages, discovered when Whitmore set up a new phone this month, reveal previously unseen conversations between the two presenters from December 2019.
Whitmore, 39, found the messages whilst downloading WhatsApp data from her cloud storage, recovering exchanges she thought had been lost.
"It really hit me hard," Whitmore wrote on Instagram, sharing screenshots of their private conversations for the first time.
The recovered messages show the warm relationship between the presenters during the period when Whitmore took over hosting duties on Love Island, just weeks before Flack's death on February 15, 2020.
In their messages from December 18, 2019, Flack reached out to Whitmore about the Love Island hosting role, writing: "Hey xxx About to go see. I hope you are doing the job xx. I wouldn't want it to be anyone else x."
Whitmore rediscovered messages from Flack she thought had been lost
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Whitmore responded calling it "such a lovely message" and explained she had met with producers but nothing was confirmed at that point.
In a subsequent message, Whitmore informed Flack she had secured the role, writing: "They're going to announce it today. It's been back and forth last few days... but wanted to tell you first. I'll do my very best to give it the justice it deserves."
Flack replied with a red heart emoji, adding: "I'm glad it's you xxx."
Their final exchange showed Flack remained positive about the show, despite stepping back from hosting duties.
Whitmore shared the last messages she received from Flack
Instagram: Lauren Whitmore
"Thanks Laura... feeling a bit better... I really am looking forward to watching the show tho... it's perfect you and Iain (Stirling) doing it together xx," Flack wrote.
Whitmore replied: "I mean I NEVER actually see him ha! Hope you're somewhere lovely and see you soon xx."
Flack's final message to Whitmore consisted of four red love heart emojis.
At the time of the handover, Flack had publicly supported Whitmore's appointment, stating: "I'm glad it's Laura. She loves the show as much as I do."
Whitmore explained her decision to share the messages, saying they "show a side to Caroline which is nice to remember."
She revealed their friendship began in 2011 when she took over from Flack hosting I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Whitmore and Flack first met in 2011
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"She was as supportive of me doing that role back then as she was when she supported me doing Love Island in 2020," Whitmore said.
The presenter noted she has declined all requests to speak about Flack's death in documentaries, saying: "I've already said all I can say on the tragedy and don't want words to be misconstrued and need to look after my own mental health."
"I'd like to think wherever she is now, she's at peace and somewhere lovely like I hoped," Whitmore added.
Flack took her own life on February 15, 2020, aged 40, after learning prosecutors would proceed with an assault charge involving her then-boyfriend Lewis Burton.
A coroner later ruled that her mental health had deteriorated following her arrest, with the inquest hearing that sections of the media had been "hounding" the presenter.
The TV star had hosted Love Island between 2015 and 2019, following earlier success presenting shows including The X Factor and winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
Flack's mother Christine unveiled a suicide prevention bench in north London last September in memory of her daughter.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call the Samaritans for help at any time on 116 123.
